find you are willing to employ him on my recommendation, and it is with the greatest pleasure I comply with this request. His behaviour, while with me, was strictly honest, sober, and diligent; and I doubt not but it will be the same with you. I have sent this enclosed in one to himself, and if you employ him, I hope he will give satisfaction. I am, sir, your humble servant.

LETTER LXI.

The Answer.

Sir, I received your obliging letter in recommendation of the young man, and in consequence of that have taken him into my family. I doubt not, from what you say, of his giving satisfaction, and you may be assured of his being treated with humanity, and rewarded according to his merit. I am, your humble servant.

LETTER LXII.

From a Country Shopkeeper to his Friend in London, desiring him to send some Goods.

Sir, That friendship which we contracted in our youth is not yet, I hope, abated, although Providence has placed us many miles distant from each other. I have heard of your success in London, and it is with pleasure I can assure you, that I am comfortably settled here. But you know that our returns are slow, and profits small, and therefore, however willing, I am not in circumstances sufficient to defray the expense of a journey to London, in order to purchase goods at the best hand; which has been attended with some loss, besides à considerable expense. Relying therefore on your former friendship, I have presumed to solicit your assistance, to purchase, from time to time, what goods I

may happen to want from London, for which an order shall be remitted on delivery. At present I have only sent for a few articles, as you will see by the enclosed. I doubt not of your getting them as good and cheap as possible; and if there is any thing I can do to serve you in this part of the country, you may depend on its being executed with the utmost fidelity and despatch.

I am, sir, your sincere friend.

LETTER LXIII.

The Answer.

Sir, Yours I received, and am extremely glad to hear of your being comfortably settled. There is a pleasure in looking back to those youthful days we spent together in harmless amusement, and it gives me great pleasure to think that I have it in my power to be any way of service to my friend. The goods you ordered are sent in the Litchfield waggon, directed to you. They are good and as cheap as any to be had in London, and I hope you will be a considerable gainer. With respect to your kind offer of service I heartily thank you, and shall, as occasion requires, trouble you with something of that nature. In the meantime be sure to command me in every thing wherein I can serve you, as it will give the greatest pleasure to your sincere friend.

LETTER LXIV.

From a Country Shopkeeper to a Dealer in London, complaining of the badness of his Goods.

Sir,-When I first began to correspond with you, it was my fixed resolution to act with integrity and honour, expecting the same in return. I must, indeed, confess that the goods you sent to me some time ago, were as good as any I could purchase from

another, and so far I had not any reason to com plain. But now the case is quite different: the two last parcels you sent me are so bad that I dare not offer them to my customers. From what, sir, does this proceed? have I ever been deficient in my payments? no, you dare not accuse me with any thing of that nature. However I am obliged to tell you, that unless you send me others in their room, I must either withdraw my correspondence, or shut up my shop. You may choose which you please, and let me beg to have your answer by return of post, as I am in immediate want of these goods, and in danger of losing my customers by a delay.

In doing so you will oblige, &c.

LETTER LXV.

The Answer.

Sir, I received yours, and am extremely sorry to hear the goods sent you were so bad. By some mistake my servants have inadvertently sent some goods I had in my warehouse, not intended for any of my customers, for which I am extremely sorry; but, in order to make you amends, I sent, by this day's waggon, those which I had originally intended for you, at my own expense. I hope you will excuse this, and be assured you shall never be served in such a manner for the future.

I am, sir, your humble servant.

LETTER LXVI.

From a Tradesman in Distressed Circumstances, desiring a Letter of Licence.

Sir, It is now above ten years since I first had dealings with you, and during that time you well know that my payments were regular, but at prescut, I am sorry that my affairs are so perplexed,

that it is not in my power to comply with the just demands of my creditors, nor even to pay them any thing until my affairs are settled: for that reason, sir, I have sent to you, desiring a letter of licence for only twelve months, in which time I hope to be able to settle my affairs to their satisfaction; but if they will not comply with this, I am utterly ruined. Your answer is impatiently expected by,

Your obedient humble servant.

LETTER XLVII.

The Answer.

Sir, Yours I received, and am extremely sorry to hear that your circumstances are so distressed. In order to comply with your request, I called a meeting of the creditors, and I doubt not but they will agree to a proposal so fair and reasonable, of which I shall give you notice.

I am, sir, your real friend.

PART III.

LETTERS ON LOVE, COURTSHIP, AND MARRIAGE.

LETTER LXVIII.

From a young Gentleman to a Lady with whom he is in love.

Madam,-I have three times attempted to give you a verbal relation of the contents of this letter; but my heart has as often failed. I know not in what light it may be considered, only if I can form any notion of my own heart, from the impression made on it by your many amiable accomplishments,

my happines in this world will, in a great measure, depend on your answer. I am not precipitate, madam, nor would I desire your hand, if your heart did not accompany it. My circumstances are independent, and my character hitherto unblemished, of which you shall have the most undoubted proof. You have already seen some of my relations at your aunt's in Bond Street, particularly my mother, with whom I now live. Your aunt will inform you concerning our family, and if it is to your satisfaction, I shall not only consider myself as extremely happy, but shall also make it the principal study of my future life, to spend my days in the company of her whom I prefer to all others in the world. I shall wait for your answer with the utmost impatience, and am,-Madam, your real admirer.

LETTER LXIX.

The Lady's Answer.

Sir, I received your letter last night, and as it was on a subject I had not yet any thoughts of, you will not wonder when I tell you, I was a good deal surprised. Although I have seen you at different times, yet I had not the most distant thought of your making proposals of such a nature. Those of your sex have often asserted that we are fond of flattery, and mightily pleased to be praised; I shall therefore suppose it true, and excuse you for those fulsome encomiums bestowed upon me in your letter; but am afraid, were I to comply with your proposals, you would soon be convinced that the charms you mention, and seem to value so much, are merely exterior appearances, which, like the summer flower, will very soon fade, and all those mighty professions of love will end at last either in indifference, or, which is worse, disgust. You desire me